Compendium of Biography
Of Henry County, Indiana
B.F. Bowen
Surnames in this biography are: Harden, Jessup, Bales, Cook,Compton, Test,
JOHN C. HARDEN.
In therespect that is accorded to men who have fought their own
way to success, oftentimes through unfavorable environment and in the face of
apparentlydiscouraging circumstances, we find an unconscious recognition of
the intrinsicworth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test,
but gains newstrength through the discipline. Such a character is that
possessed by thegentleman whose name forms the caption to this brief review.
John C. Harden is a native of GuilfordCounty, North Carolina born on the 23d
of March, 1835. His boyhood days werespent upon a farm, and he early became
inured to the arduous and ceaselesslabor incident to an agricultural life. He
had the misfortune, when but sixteenyears old, to lose his mother by death,
and at nineteen years of age he boldly struck out forhimself. During
the years of his boyhood his educational advantages had been very
limited. In the fallof 1854, believing that his goodfortune lay
further west, he came to Indiana. He first assisted his fatherto
move, and then securedemployment with Jesse B. Jessup. That same fall he
assisted in the building of the Unionschoolhouse, the substantial
character of the structure being attested by thefact that it is still in use,
though now as a barn. For five years he was inthe employ of various farmers,
three years of this time being with John H.Bales, father of Oliver H. Bales.
Uponhis marriage, in 1859, he became possessed through his wife of a part of
theHiatt farm and then bought another interest in the same farm, thus giving
him aholding of ninety-four acres. There was on it at that time but one small
houseand Mr. Harden was compelled to go in debt for a part of the purchase
price.However, this has been his home ever since, and by indefatigable
industry,sound judgment and wise economy he prospered so that he was at
length enabledto increase his holdings to twohundred and fifty-four
acres. This includes nearly all of the Hiatt farm andalso two sets of
farm buildings.The present residence of Mr. Harden was erected in
1873 and there is with it a good barn andother necessary
outbuildings. Nearly all this land is rich and fertile bottomland,
situated along the BlueRiver, and is particularly well adapted to the
raising of corn. In addition to this fine property Mr.Harden owns
three other valuablefarms, one of one hundred acres, which he has
owned for fifteen years, aneighty-acre tract adjoining the latter, and he
also owns the old Cook farm ofone hundred and seventeen acres in Greensboro
Township. All three of thesefarms lie on the line between Wayne and
Greensboro Townships, the last namedtract having been entered about 1820 by
Levi Cook, of South Carolina, who camehere from Ohio for a permanent
residence in 1.824 or 1825. It has been in thefamily ever since. Levi Cook
also entered, in 1820, what has more recently beenknown as the Hiatt farm;
this has also been kept in the family possession. Partof the residence now
standing on the Cook farm was built by him sixty yearsago. On the 3d of
November, 1859, JohnC. Harden was united in marriage with Miss Ann Hiatt, the
daughter of James andBetty ( Cook) Hiatt. James Hiatt was born in Ohio and
his wife was a daughterof Levi Cook the pioneer mentioned above, and his
wife, Betty, was still ingirlhood when her parents came to the Hoosier state,
and she and her husbandsettled on part of what is now the Harden property.
James Hiatt died at the ageof forty-one years, when the subject’s wife was
but one year old. When thelatter was eight years old her mother also passed
away, leaving six children,four sons and two daughters, of whom Ann was the
youngest. Their names were asfollows: Job is an agriculturist at Bennett,
Nebraska; Levi is a retired farmerat Tacoma, Washington; Seth is a farmer in
Greensboro Township, Henry County,Indiana; Isaac is a miner atBaker
City, Oregon, while the other sister, Abigail, died at the age of
sixteenyears. After the father’s death themother had faithfully kept her
family together, but upon her death they becamescattered, Ann and her sister
Abigail finding a home with their uncle, JohnCook, who lived on the old Levi
Cook homestead in Greensboro township. Abigail died there and Ann remained
untilher eighteenth year, then until her marriage lived with a cousin. Her
marriagewith John C. Harden was blessed by the birth of three sons, one of
whom,William M., died in childhood. The others are Edwin, who married
Nettie Compton, and owns partof the old Hiatt farm; he is the father of two
children, Hazel and Hoyt; and Horace L., who lives on theold Levi
Cook farm, married Emma Test and they have had five children,Margaret, James
Alvin, John Frederick, Carol Ann and Russell, the last named dyingin
infancy. Politically Mr. Harden hasgiven a life long allegiance to the
Republican Party, having cast his firstpresidential ballot for John C.
Fremont in 1856. Mrs. Harden is a prohibitionist.Religiously Mrs. Harden is a
birthright Quaker and Mr. Harden has since joinedthat society, of which they
are still active and consistent members. While Mr. Harden has given
considerableattention to the tilling of the soil, he has not confined his
attention to thatline alone, but also handles considerable live stock,
principally cattle andhogs, and keeps some splendid draft horses. He is also
a director in theCitizen’s Bank at Knightstown. He is a public-spirited and
progressive citizen,deeply interested in the welfare of his community and all
that contributes to itsadvancement. His business efforts have been crowned
with a degree of successrichly merited and because of his straightforward,
honorable life he has won ahigh place in the regard of his associates.
I typed this forthose that are researching these surname. Sorry, but I don’t
know any more about this family, or thisbiography. Typed by Lora Radiches.